What are teachers doing for Non-Traditional Instruction?

With Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) set to start district-wide tomorrow, we’ve spent the past week asking Manual teachers about their plans for NTI, how they will communicate with students and how their lessons will be different online as compared to in-person. We contacted or researched every Manual and YPAS teacher and compiled a list of their intentions. Teachers not included did not return our request for their NTI plans. This story will be updated as we hear back from more teachers.

Junior English:Will work on independent reading project and draft a speech based on class novel, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.”

Math

Jury, Jacob

Will utilize YouTube, Zoom and Quizziz

Plans to post two YouTube videos a week to his channel and will assign Quizziz evaluations to assess where students are on the topic rather than for grading purposes. “These evaluations cannot be used to change grades, they will give us an indicator as to how our students will fair at the next level.”

Morris, Tyler

Will utilize Zoom, Google Classroom, Remind and AP Classroom

Will assign work to be done on a weekly basis

Pre-Calculus and Non-AP Calculus: Plans to post two to three video lessons per week for students to take notes and complete supplementary problems. Will also have zoom meetings and office hours for questions.

AP Calculus: Will have set meetings which will mostly focus on review and which will be recorded and posted to Google Classroom afterward

Richards, David

Conduct live-streams through YouTube and Q&A sessions through Zoom

Will give students assessments to “see where they are” but will be flexible with grading

Plans to utilize Remind to keep in contact with students and assist with assignments

Roy, Dawn

Sending lessons in short video examples that students can watch as needed and written examples for the learner that prefers to process information by reading

Optional Zoom Q&A sessions for students needing assistance with a topic or assignment

Office hours through email and Remind where students can expect an immediate response

Tackett, Andrea

Optional live meetings through Zoom twice a week, posted as videos after to explain lessons and assignments

Office hours through Zoom daily and quick responses to email and Remind

Workloads will be lighter than normal classes and deadlines will be flexible.

Make-up work can still be submitted with no penalties and electronic versions of previous tests will be made available.

White, Nicole

Two short lessons per week that will be posted on Google Classroom

Three videos for each lesson: one with the lesson itself, one with several examples, and one with an explanation of the accompanying assignment.

Daily office hours on Zoom

Science

Applegate, Chris

Optional assignments that will only boost student grades

Daily office hours through Zoom or Google Meets

Twice weekly check-in form

Physics: Content will be catered to student interest, beginning with changing a flat tire.

Students can ask questions over Remind and will have the ability to watch Zoom meetings if they were unable to attend.

Moss, Erin

Plans to have office hours from 8-9 a.m. and 1-2 p.m. daily where she will be available through Google Classroom, Remind and email

AP Chemistry: Will review past content and work through practice problems that will be posted on google classroom. There will be optional conference calls on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12:30 to 1 and on Thursdays from 9 to 9:30.

MST Chemistry:Activities and assignments will be posted on google classroom. Class will go over questions on unit notes given to students before break. Students will do chemistry activities around their homes and will have optional conference calls on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 9:30 and on Thursdays from 12:30-1

Rich, Alexis

Will post lessons on Google Classroom on Tuesdays and Thursdays

Will utilize screencastify and AP Collegeboard Classroom for review for AP Physics

Wilson, Adam

Communicate via Google Hangouts or email between the times 2-3:30 (office hours).

All work will be posted on Google Classroom

Weekly mini-projects every Monday that will be due at the end of the week.

Everyone will fill out a check-in form

Social Studies

Cecil, Allison

AP Human Geography: Will post a pacing calendar on Google Classroom with activities and lessons for each unit.

Will utilize voluntary Google Meets and Google Forms checking on mental health and progress of students.

Will utilize Conjuguemos, StudySpanish, Quia, Socrative, to check for understanding.

Office hours through Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays

Lenihan. Kathryn

Have weekly Zoom calls to check in and will post assignments via Google Classroom

Assignments will be a lighter workload than normal

Shiroma, Cindy

Students will finish projects assigned before the missed days, some projects postponed until next year.

YouTube videos, online museum tours, Kahoots, Blooket and novellas will be used as instruction and all assignments will be through Google Classroom.

Plans to meet with students through Google Meets at least weekly

Smith, Tim

Cultural websites, YouTube videos, tutorials and movies will be used to help students practice their skills.

AP Spanish: Explore and learn one more theme before modified AP exam

Much less focus on grammar, which will be more emphasized next year

Visual Arts

Alford, Alana

Will post assignments that will enhance students’ understanding of art

Plans to be flexible with students

Clinkingbeard, Julie

AP Art History: Review for AP test with video and class discussion

Junior/senior studio: Will design postage stamps

Non-VA art: Will work on found-object art and art with unusual subjects.

Curtis, Wes

Will place emphasis on the smaller things in life by posting videos of himself noticing the small details in his home and in the world

Photography: Will shift to digital photography capturing small things in photos and noticing little details. Students will have a list of topics for their photoshoots.

Drawing and Painting: Students will design a new paint job for Mr. Curtis’ old pickup truck, and he’ll pick one, and they will actually paint it this summer. Students will have a list of little topics to inspire their art.

Young, Cyndi

Will utilize weekly Zoom meetings

Students in most classes will do an activity based on the earthworks artist, Andy Goldsworthy

Plans to host multiple weekly Zoom meetings and smaller Zoom meetings for assessing pieces students have been working on.

Will have office hours during which he will be available to answer questions.

Whisler, Dan (Orchestra)

Concert, Philharmonia and Chamber Orchestras: Will utilize Collabra for students to upload videos of their weekly practice and for assessments, focused on excerpts from selected pieces.

String Techniques:Will utilize Collabra for students to upload videos of their weekly practice and for assessments focused on scales and etudes.

Music Theory and Conducting:Will utilize YouTube video lessons and email to communicate with students.

Hinds, Brian (Theatre)

Will assign plays for students to watch, read and write.

Students will submit recordings of monologues which will get them used to auditions conducted through self-taping.

Jones, Jane B (Theatre)

Directing 1 & 2: Will work on virtual auditions, preparing for casting a play using only self-taped submissions and will take a look at funding by preparing a grant application for a dream production. They will also examine theatre vs. film by watching a recording of a play and writing about what does and does not translate from one medium to another.

Playwriting: Will continuing to write a one-act play with digital peer feedback

Exploring Theatre: Will work on moth-style storytelling, playwriting exercises and play analysis.

Adrienne Sato is the sports editor on Manual RedEye this year. She plays soccer for Manual and likes to read. She is left-handed (and left-footed), and her favorite day of the week is Thursday. You can contact her at [email protected] .

Reece Gunther is a co-Editor-in-Chief of Manual RedEye this year. He enjoys spreading kindness, helping the less fortunate and promoting laughter. You can often find him listening to podcasts or exploring the world around him, from parks to volunteer opportunities. You can contact him at [email protected]

The Manual RedEye staff wrote these stories as a collective group. Together, we believe that some of our most powerful and impactful stories come from the 28 individual ideas and collaboration of our staffers.

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